Where there is no vision, the people perish. . . . The first task for advocates of limited government is to develop and advance that vision. We don’t have to resign ourselves to a counsel of despair. It would, in any case, prove self-fulfilling.

—David Boaz

David Boaz spent his life advancing liberty—and with a final, extraordinary act of generosity, he ensured that his life’s work would continue for generations to come. Upon his passing, David made a $5 million legacy gift to the Cato Institute, a powerful testament to his lifelong commitment to the ideas of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.

To honor this remarkable contribution, Cato is establishing the David Boaz Chair, to be held by his longtime friend and colleague Ian Vásquez, vice president for international studies. The chair will not only support Cato’s global work but also serve as a lasting tribute to David’s intellectual leadership and his dedication to scholarly excellence and libertarian principles.

David joined Cato in 1981 and served as vice president for public policy and executive vice president over a tenure that spanned more than four decades. He was a foundational figure in the modern libertarian movement and played an indispensable role in Cato’s growth from a small office in San Francisco to a world-renowned think tank in Washington, DC.

His passing on June 7, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with cancer, prompted tributes from across the political spectrum. Obituaries in the New York Times, Washington Post, and other media outlets highlighted his influence in bringing libertarianism into the mainstream. As the Post noted, “Mr. Boaz helped shape the course of libertarian thought from his longtime intellectual home at the Cato Institute.”

David’s legacy lives on—in his books, in the countless lives he influenced, and now in the enduring institution he helped build. His final gift to Cato will help ensure that the cause of liberty remains vibrant and influential for years to come.